February Bubbly Club: Iowa

Posted on January 29, 2025 by mcginnessalex

Argyle
Vintage Brut
Willamette Valley, Oregon

BUBBLY WINE STYLE

Golden apple and Anjou Pear flavors influenced by Knudsen Vineyard fruit add to the natural weight and brightness, while vanilla and toasted cake crust sneak into the flavor mix, adding to the opulence of this blend.

Analysis: 12.5% alcohol / volume
Varietal: 63% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 7% Pinot Meunier
Clones:

Pinot Noir: Dijon clones: 777, 667, 115 and Pommard
Chardonnay: Dijon clones 95, 76, 96
Pinot Meunier: Clone 1

Appellation: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Total Acidity: 8.9 g/L
pH: 3.05
Dosage: 2.5 g/L
Dosage Vehicle: Chardonnay
Brix at Harvest: 18.5
Fermentation: Cold fruit was gently pressed and racked into 25% Neutral Barrel, 75% stainless steel tank for fermentation and aging on the lees
Tirage: 4 years en tirage for freshness and disgorged on demand
Cases: 19,479
Critical Acclaim:

2019: 92 pts – Wine Spectator
2019: 91 pts – Wine Enthusiast
2019: 90 pts – James Suckling

Vineyards:
Argyle farms four estate vineyards with nearly 500 acres in the Willamette Valley, with the majority in the Eola-Amity Hills and Dundee Hills nested AVAs.

Viticulture:
Regenerative farming encourages the symbiotic relationship between the earth and the vine in tandem with the development of habitats for native flora and fauna. The results from their sustainable and responsible practices includes healthier soils, energetic vineyards and fruit.

© Argyle Winery - Winemaker, Nate Klostermann

About the Winemaker:
Nate Klostermann is the 2nd winemaker in Argyle’s 35-year history and has emerged as one of Oregon’s most gifted winemakers. He currently celebrates nearly two decades at Argyle and continues to say he “landed in a good spot” when he arrived at Argyle to work his first harvest. With his fine-tuned winemaking skills and passion for Oregon wine, Nate is now recognized for making elegant and complex sparkling wines along with vibrant and impeccably balanced Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Meunier.

About the Winery:
Founded in 1987 as Oregon’s sparkling wine house, Argyle quickly stood out as a study in contrasts – honoring the deep traditions of wine and embracing innovation and experimentation; proud to be Oregonian and pulling knowledge from winemakers around the world. When common knowledge said a winery could produce great sparkling wine or great still wine Argyle asked “why not both?”, answering the question with acclaimed still and sparkling wines. Argyle is the only winery in the world to be named to Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list for Sparkling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Deeply established in the Willamette Valley, yet young at heart, Argyle is led by stand-out winemaker Nate Klostermann, and innovative viticulturist Geoff Hall, who work together to explore and expand the possibilities of modern winemaking. Together they create world-class still and sparkling wines from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Riesling. Learn more here.

Additional Accolades:

#1 Selling Sparkling Wine from Willamette Valley
Top 10 Selling Domestic Luxury Sparkling House
Oregon’s Best-known Champagne-Method Sparkling Wine House – Wall Street Journal

Santa Margherita
Sparkling Rosé
Italy

BUBBLY WINE STYLE

Whether served at the beginning of a beautiful evening for two, or sipped throughout a lively meal with friends, this celebrated bubbly is an aromatic and vibrant treasure that is meant to be shared time and time again.

This pale pink wine brings a full bouquet of pleasing floral aromas with hints of red berries. It is artfully crafted with a blend of Glera and Chardonnay grapes with Malbec as the red varietal that lends its perfect light pink color. Its flavor is delicate, but vibrant and well-rounded. Santa Margherita Sparkling Rosé is an approachable wine that lingers on the palate; good for any occasion as an accompaniment to brunch, desserts, antipasti, seafood or intensely flavored Asian cuisines.

Analysis: 11.5% alcohol / volume
Varietal: 55% Glera, 40% Chardonnay, 5% Malbec
Sugar Content: 8.3 g/750ml
Aspect & Elevation: 1-1,150 feet above sea level
Soil Type: Fluvial (Chardonnay), Morainic (Glera), Fluvial and Lagoon (Malbec)
Vine Training System: Guyot (Chardonnay), Sylvoz/double Guyot (Glera), Spurred cordon (Malbec)
Planting Density: 3,500-4000 vines per acre (Chardonnay), 1,215 – 1,415 vines per acre (Glera), 2,105 per vines acre (Malbec)
Harvest Period: Second half of September
Serving Temperature: 42º-46ºF
Recommended Glass: Medium-sized tulip-shaped, narrowing towards the rim
Aging Potential: Meant to be enjoyed fresh
Food Pairings: Tasty, aromatic apéritif, and an exciting companion for your food explorations: savory Italian appetizers, complex seafood dishes, and spicy, exotic Asian cuisines. It also brings a delightful sparkle to a festive brunch or your favorite rich dessert. Or enjoy with this recipe for Strawberries with Vanilla Mascarpone and Balsamic Drizzle.

Technical Information:
The blending of a fine Sparkling Rosé wine is a delicate art, and Santa Margherita is proud to share this masterpiece. They start with a white wine made from the Glera grapes used to produce Prosecco, then add Chardonnay and a small amount of Malbec to add color and richness. This tantalizing blend undergoes a month-long second fermentation followed by six months of maturation in pressurized tanks. Only then is this dry, sparkling wine ready to serve and enjoy.

The Bottle:
Featuring their family crest, the new clear glass bottle offers a fresh, contemporary look, while showcasing the lush, gorgeous color of their Sparkling Rosé. The updated label, reminiscent of Venetian design, proudly celebrates their Italian heritage.

Did you Know?

The Coat of Arms of the Marzotto family is on the neckband of every bottle of the delicious Sparkling Rosé. In 1935, the Marzotto family founded Santa Margherita, and it has been contributing to the international success of premium quality Italian wine for over 80 years.
Santa Margherita loves the bees: they avoid cutting the grass between the rows of vines while the grapes are growing to protect the work of bees and other pollinating insects.
Santa Margherita is vegan-friendly and has eliminated the use of all animal by-products during filtration.
Santa Margherita recycles grape skins, which further reduces waste.

About the Winery:
Santa Margherita Winery, founded in 1935 in Italy’s Veneto region, is a pioneer in crafting elegant, approachable wines that celebrate the essence of Italian winemaking. The winery combines innovation with a deep respect for tradition and sustainability. With vineyards spanning some of Italy’s most prestigious regions, Santa Margherita produces a diverse portfolio of wines, each reflecting the unique character of its terroir. Dedicated to quality, heritage, and environmental responsibility, Santa Margherita continues to bring people together through the timeless pleasure of great wine. Learn more here.

Learn more about our Bubbly Club >

June Bubbly Club Iowa

Posted on May 31, 2024 by mcginnessalex

Schramsberg Vineyards
Brut Rosé
North Coast, California

BUBBLY WINE STYLE

Schramsberg’s Brut Rosé is fruitful, complex and dry, making it both versatile with food and delicious by itself as an apéritif. The character of the wine is strongly influenced by bright, flavorful Pinot Noir grown along the coast from southern Mendocino County to northern Marin County. A few small lots of Pinot Noir are fermented in contact with their skins to add depth and subtle color to this vibrant sparkling wine. Chardonnay gives spice, structure and length on the palate.

“The 2019 Brut Rosé opens with enticing aromas of raspberry, strawberry and peach, intermingled with layers of lemon shortbread, brioche and a hint of white florals. A bright entry of watermelon, cherry-limeade, candied orange and sugar cookie leads to a long quenching finish.” – Winemakers Sean Thompson, Jessica Koga and Hugh Davies

Analysis: 13% alcohol / volume
Varietal: 66% Pinot Noir, 34% Chardonnay
TA: 8.0 g/L
pH: 3.19
RS: 9.0 g/L
Appellation: North Coast, California
County Composition: 48% Sonoma, 24% Napa, 22% Mendocino, 6% Marin
Harvest Dates: August 20 – September 24th, 2019
Release Date: September 1st, 2022
Barrel Fermentation: 32%
Critical Acclaim: 93 pts Wine Enthusiast, 92 pts Wine Spectator
Serving Suggestions: This is a very versatile wine; try it with sushi, salmon, rock shrimp, roast chicken BBQ ribs, Caprese and Panzanella salads, red berry tarts and an array of cheeses, charcuterie, nuts and fresh fruit. For more recipe inspiration, click here.

SchramsbergVineyards_Vineyard-Sources-2020

Production & Winemaking:
Hand picking, careful handling and gentle pressing produce a wine of delicacy, aromatic purity and depth. Following the fall harvest and fermentation of the base wines, extensive tasting trails are carried out in the spring to create a polished blend reflective of the vintage. The finished blend undergoes a second fermentation in bottle before aging on its yeast lees for about two years, just enough to achieve refined effervescence and toastiness without diminishing its refreshing, vibrant appeal.

For 2019, winter brought an abundant amount of rainfall which helped restore the water reservoirs that had suffered from years of drought. With additional late rains in May, the vines had ample water for the growing season. The transition from veraison to full ripeness was very consistent due to the warm, but not hot, temperatures that were maintained during the summer. Harvest started slightly later than average, and in the end brought a bountiful crop with exceptional fruit structure, depth of flavor, and bright acidity.

About Hugh Davies – President and CEO:

Hugh Davies was born in 1965, the year his parents, Jack and Jamie Davies, revived the historic Schramsberg Vineyards property in Napa Valley. Forty years later, Hugh was named president and CEO of the then 40-year-old sparkling wine house. Prior to 2005, he held the dual responsibilities of winemaker and general manager for the winery. He serves on the board of directors for the Napa Valley Vintners (president 2006), and with his family, chaired the 2004 Auction Napa Valley. For prior hands-on experience in the wine industry before joining Schramsberg, Hugh worked with Möet et Chandon in Epernay; Petaluma Winery in South Australia, and Mumm in Napa Valley, among others.

About Schramsberg Vineyards:

In 1965, Jack and Jamie Davies established Schramsberg as a sparkling wine estate on the property originally founded in 1862 by German immigrant Jacob Schram. At a time when there were only 22 bonded wineries in Napa Valley and fewer than 100 acres of California vineyards planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, they set out to make world-class sparkling wine in the true méthode champenoise style. Theirs was the first California winery to provide a Blanc de Blancs in 1965 followed by a Blanc de Noirs in 1967. Now their son Hugh Davies, who was born the same year the Davies arrived at Schramsberg, leads the winery’s management and winemaking team. Learn more here.

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May Bubbly Club Iowa

Posted on April 24, 2024 by mcginnessalex

Bodegas Manzanos
Berceo Brut
Cava, Spain

BUBBLY WINE STYLE

This Brut Cava D.O. is pale lemon, clean and bright in color; it has a good release of small bubbles that end up forming a cheerful crown of mousse. On the nose, there is a high intensity aroma dominated by citrus fruit (lemon, grapefruit) and dairy. Autolytic and honey aromas of aging in bottle are distinguished. On the palate, this wine is fresh, fruity and pleasant with balanced acidity and very good aromatic persistence.

Varietal: Xarel·lo, Macabeo, Parellada
Terroir: Grapes varieties are from vineyards located in the Penedès region. It’s the territory between the sea and mountains, halfway between Barcelona and Tarragona. It has a great diversity of microclimates, a consequence of its proximity to the coast and its altitude. The climate is typically Mediterranean, mild and warm.
Serving Suggestions: Risotto, shellfish, smoked foods or aperitif.

Winemaking:
Made using the “méthode champenoise” or “traditional method” of the Cava DO. Blend or coupage of the traditional varieties of the appellation. Second fermentation in the bottle, as is traditional, with subsequent aging. Disgorgement and subsequent addition of the expedition liquor or dosage.

About Berceo:

In the XIII Century, a monk and poet named Gonzalo de Berceo lived in La Rioja, in the Monastery of Suso. At that time, the languages spoken in the area were Arabic and Basque. Back then, Latin was the only written idiom. Gonzalo de Berceo dared to write in Spanish, in a religious poem that also made mention to wine. Since then, Berceo was a very important link between history and wine culture.

About Bodegas Manzanos:

The history of Manzanos Wines is the story of a family, their effort, their perseverance and their know-how. The Fernández de Manzanos have been cultivating vineyards and producing wines for more than a century. It was exactly in 1890 when the first generation of the Fernández de Manzanos family established a small winery in Azagra with a capacity of 50,000 liters of wine. Nowadays, the public faces of Bodegas Manzanos are those of the brothers Víctor, and David Fernández de Manzanos, as well as Laura Mateo, wife of the former. In 2010, these young entrepreneurs took the reins of the winery to turn Bodegas Manzanos into a prosperous business, modern and endowed with the latest technologies in the field. A business that has managed to preserve the old flavor of tradition and its legacy. Learn more here.

Emmolo
Sparkling No. 6
California

BUBBLY WINE STYLE

The nose features notes of Meyer lemon blossom, baked brioche, pear and a hint of green apple with vibrant minerality. The palate is fresh but complex. Satsuma citrus with echoes of pear. Opens round and creamy, then turns zesty with bright natural acidity carrying through to the finish.

Varietal: 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir – Being non-vintage allows the winery to build a desired character that is serious, yet light and fresh.
Style differentiator: A prolonged en tirage for 41 months gives this wine creaminess and depth. Extremely fine bubbles provide elegance.
Dosage: 2021 Chardonnay from Monterey gives this wine some of its fresh character.
Vineyards: Monterey, Sonoma and Santa Barbara counties. The extended growing season in these cooler coastal regions leads to wine of heightened complexity.
Serving Suggestions from Winemaker, Jenny Wagner: Cheese puff with biscuit dough, smoked salmon tartine, popcorn or just enjoy on its own.

Winemaker Notes:
“My goal is to create an elegant wine with a richly developed character. Even tough this is a California sparkling, I take inspiration from my favorite Champagnes.” – Jenny Wagner, Owner and Winemaker

About the Winery:
“Emmolo is the name of my mom’s side of the family, which has a long farming history in Napa Valley. My mom, Cheryl Emmolo, has no brothers and wanted to keep the name alive. She dreamed of making wine using family vineyards, and I feel very fortunate that she passed the reins on to me. When I showed my first wine to my grandparents, it was very emotional for all of us.” – Jenny Wagner

Emmolo Winery, established by Cheryl Emmolo in 1994, is deeply rooted in the rich wine history of Napa Valley. Cheryl’s vision was to honor her family’s long-standing tradition in the region, dating back to her grandfather, who operated a vine nursery in the 1920s. Today, her daughter Jenny Wagner has taken the helm as the winemaker, emphasizing minimalist winemaking techniques that showcase the unique characteristics of their varietals. Through a delicate balance of tradition and innovation, Emmolo continues to produce exceptional wines that are a tribute to their heritage and a delight to wine enthusiasts. Learn more here.

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April Bubbly Club Iowa

Posted on March 21, 2024 by mcginnessalex

Vollereaux
Rosé De Saignée Brut NV
Champagne, France

BUBBLY WINE STYLE

Intense raspberry in color with consistent fine bubbles. The nose has initial aromas of red berries and crushed strawberry; after aeration, the nose reveals notes of fresh pastries and vanilla. The palate is full bodied and round with subtle notes of red berries and a long finish.

Analysis: 12.5% alcohol / volume
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
TA: 3.8
pH: 3.18
RS: 9.2 g/L
Winemaker: Franck Vollereaux
Serving Suggestions: Delightful on its own, or perfect with macaroons.
Vinification: Pinot Noir grapes are macerated via the traditional saignée’ method, or “bleeding” off a portion of pink juice during red wine production. The juice spends three years on lees, more than twice the time required by appellation rules.
Critical Acclaim: 93 pts. – Wine Enthusiast, December 2020

About the Winery:
Champagne Vollereaux was established in 1805 by Paul Emile Vollereaux. For six generations, the Vollereaux family’s attention to detail has been reflected in each bottle, leaving a finished product that delivers a fresh, light, elegant and fruity profile. What was once enjoyed by a small group of friends and family is now available worldwide. With its casual-chic style, Champagne Vollereaux creates the occasion and elevates any moment. Vollereaux is one of the very few champagne wineries to use the traditional saigne method of maceration for its Rosé Champagne, which involves bleeding off a portion of pink juice during red wine production (as opposed to blending red and white wine together). This process occurs after a short contact with the grape skins and seeds.

Today, the winery is owned and operated by brother-sister team Franck and Hélène Vollereaux. Franck is the winemaker and director while Hélène handles the domestic business and winery hospitality. Together, they carry the spirit of continuously strengthening and improving on the success achieved by their forebears.

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March Bubbly Club Iowa

Posted on February 26, 2024 by mcginnessalex

JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset
No. 69 Rosé
Burgundy, France

BUBBLY WINE STYLE

Jean-Charles was born in 1969, the year that mankind went to the moon. As such, 69 represents unlimited expression, freedom, creativity, intellectual revolution, artistry, and refinement. Of course, 69 is also a Rosé Brut based exclusively on Pinot Noir; a Rosé that entwines masculinity and femininity.

For Jean-Charles Boisset, No 69 Sparkling Rosé is not a dainty pink drink. It’s a flamboyant, profound mouthful of serious bubbles. The vibrant crispness of No 69 is thirst quenching, yet the flavors are evocative of Pinot Noir and are beautifully sensual.

About the Winery:
Jean-Charles Boisset was born into the world of wine in the village of Vougeot, Burgundy, France. His lifelong passion for wine began as a child, as he grew up above the cellars and within view of the centuries-old vineyards of Château du Clos de Vougeot, the epicenter and birthplace of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

His parents, Jean-Claude and Claudine, founded the family winery in 1961 with an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit in one of the most traditional winegrowing regions in the world. Today, the family collection includes wineries that share more than 20 centuries of combined winemaking heritage and tradition in some of the world’s most prestigious terroirs, from Burgundy to the South of France, to California’s Napa Valley and Russian River Valley. Learn more here.

Summer Water
Bubbly Rosé
France

BUBBLY WINE STYLE

Summer Water’s most highly-requested product! Ideal for drinking year-round, because once you realize you don’t need a reason to drink bubbly, the second part of your life begins! Summer Water Bubbly is just as crisp and delicious as the original, but with a celebratory twist. This French blend is refreshing and light with just a hint of sweetness. It showcases notes of candied strawberry, melon and fragrant white flowers. Bubbly and fun, this bottle promises to enhance all your sunny (or rainy) day activities.

This French Sparkling Rosé is made in the Charmat method, aged in stainless steel for 6 months. Pair with BBQ, burgers, fries, salads and chocolate cake – YUM!

Analysis: 11.5% alcohol / volume
TA: 6.8 g/L
RS: 9.6 g/L
pH: 3.13

About Sumer Water:
Don’t let the name fool you, this team is more than just the rosé of the season. Rated in the top 5% of wines in the world by Vivino and #1 best-selling premium domestic rosé, their award-winning blend of grapes are picked early in the harvest season for a natural acidity and year-round drinkability – do you can drink fro the weather you want, not the weather you have. Learn more here.

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